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Perception of Beauty in the Visually Blind: A Pilot Observational Study.

Perception of Beauty in the Visually Blind: A Pilot Observational Study.

Authors :
Dayan SH
Cristel RT
Gandhi ND
Fabi SG
Placik OJ
Montes JR
Kalbag A
Source :
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] [Dermatol Surg] 2020 Oct; Vol. 46 (10), pp. 1317-1322.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Background: Blind individuals have demonstrated the ability to detect danger and facial expressions without conscious awareness of visual stimuli. These embodied sensations are believed to be the result of primitive neural networks refined by evolutionary adaptations. We postulate that similar embodied sensations may have evolved to allow blind individuals to perceive beauty.<br />Objective: To determine whether the visually blind can detect physical beauty.<br />Patients and Methods: This observational study consisted of 8 blind and 10 nonblind test subjects and 6 models that were categorized into predetermined beauty categories. Test subjects were individually asked to rate 6 models on a 1 to 10 numerical beauty scale. This process was repeated in both groups while blindfolded (masked). All groups' mean model beauty scores underwent multivariate and univariate analysis.<br />Results: All groups rated preselected (greater than 8) more beautiful models, higher except for the masked, nonblind group. Intraclass correlation was good in the blind raters with a score of 0.751, whereas poor in the nonblind masked raters with a score of 0.458.<br />Conclusion: This is the first pilot study demonstrating with supporting evidence that blind individuals can detect beauty and supports that beauty may rely on primal forms of messaging that are subconsciously appreciated.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1524-4725
Volume :
46
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
31977501
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000002327